The Chiefs have 2013 salary cap commitments of more than $129 million, a total that exceeds the NFL’s expected limit of $123 million, according to figures provided to The Kansas City Star.

But the Chiefs will be about $7.5 million under the salary cap when the league year begins on March 12 because they have $14 million of unused cap space from the 2012 season to carry over into 2013. That effectively makes the Chiefs’ 2013 salary cap about $137 million.

The $129 million figure includes the salary of quarterback Alex Smith, who will be acquired in a trade from the San Francisco 49ers once the league trading period begins on March 12. For the time being, Smith’s salary cap number of $9.75 million is being carried by the 49ers and not the Chiefs, though The Star has included Smith in the Chiefs’ calculation.

Starting March 12, each team’s top 51 salaries plus so-called “dead money” will count against the cap. The Chiefs’ top 51 salaries, including Smith, total $121,474,975 and they have paid $8,084,145 in dead money, which includes salary cap figures for players who were either released last year or voided the 2013 season from their contract. That equals $129,559,120, which is $6,559,120 over the cap.But the Chiefs will carry over $14,079,650 in unused cap money from 2012, leaving them $7,520,530 of cap space.

Not including the contract of Smith, the Chiefs have more than $17 million of salary cap room.

The Chiefs can clear plenty more space under the salary cap by releasing defensive end Tyson Jackson. His salary cap number is almost $17.5 million and he is due a base salary of about $14.7 million.

Jackson would cost the Chiefs about $2.5 million if he is released. But that move would still save them about $15 million against their salary cap.

The Chiefs would also save almost $6 million against their cap when they trade or release quarterback Matt Cassel.

The Chiefs are going to need some cap room. They are trying to re-sign, among their other potential free agents, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, punter Dustin Colquitt and tackle Branden Albert.

If they can’t re-sign Bowe, he is likely to be named as the Chiefs’ franchise player. While that would effectively keep him off the free-agent market, the Chiefs at the same time would be required to offer Bowe a one-year contract worth $11.4 million.That figure is an automatic 20 percent raise from his 2012 salary because he would be a franchise player for the second straight season.

If the Chiefs can sign Bowe to a long-term contract, they may use the franchise designation on Albert, who then would be offered a one-year deal worth about $9.83 million.

If the Chiefs are going to designate a franchise player, they must do so by Monday.
Chiefs’ 2013 salary cap figures

Player

Base salary

Cap number*

DE Tyson Jackson

$14,720,000

$17,470,000

LB Tamba Hali

$12,250,000

$15,500,000

DB Eric Berry

$7,009,000

$10,211,700

QB Matt Cassel

$7,500,000

$9,825,000

QB Alex Smith

$7,500,000

$9,750,000

CB Brandon Flowers

$7,350,000

$9,600,000

OL Eric Winston

$4,900,000

$6,500,000

RB Jamaal Charles

$1,750,000

$4,333,333

LB Derrick Johnson

$2,250,000

$3,500,000

DL Dontari Poe

$904,456

$2,572,728

PK Ryan Succop

$1,950,000

$2,400,000

WR Jon Baldwin

$1,061,510

$2,059,528

LB Andy Studebaker

$2,055,000

$2,055,000

OL Jon Asamoah

$1,323,000

$1,551,030

TE Tony Moeaki

$1,323,000

$1,494,662

WR Dexter McCluster

$630,000

$1,400,000

DB Kendrick Lewis

$1,323,000

$1,374,725

OL Jeff Allen

$591,083

$1,055,415

CB Javier Arenas

$630,000

$1,003,750

OL Rodney Hudson

$643,746

$956,209

WR Terrance Copper

$840,000

$915,000

LB Justin Houston

$555,000

$747,812

DL Allen Bailey

$555,000

$718,986

DB Jalil Brown

$555,000

$682,325

OL Donald Stephenson

$480,000

$664,375

LB Cory Greenwood

$630,000

$656,250

DL Marcus Dixon

$630,000

$630,000

QB Ricky Stanzi

$555,000

$619,763

WR Devon Wylie

$480,000

$613,850

DL Jerrell Powe

$555,000

$583,170

DB Husain Abdullah**

$715,000

$555,000

WR Mardy Gilyard

$555,000

$555,000

DL Daniel Muir**

$715,000

$555,000

DL Anthony Toribio

$555,000

$555,000

RB Cyrus Gray

$480,000

$514,918

RB Nate Eachus

$480,000

$480,833

WR Josh Bellamy

$480,000

$480,000

FB Patrick DiMarco

$480,000

$480,000

OL Ryan Durand

$480,000

$480,000

DB Tysyn Hartman

$480,000

$480,000

WR Junior Hemingway

$480,000

$480,000

WR Jamar Newsome

$480,000

$480,000

OL Rich Ranglin

$480,000

$480,000

DB Neiko Thorpe

$480,000

$480,000

RB Shaun Draughn

$480,000

$480,000

DB De’Quan Menzie

$405,000

$464,613

OL Steve Baker

$405,000

$410,000

TE Kevin Brock

$405,000

$405,000

DB Jose Gumbs

$405,000

$405,000

DL Lucas Patterson

$405,000

$405,000

WR Tyler Shoemaker

$405,000

$405,000

PK Matt Syzmanski

$405,000

$405,000

QB Alex Tanney

$405,000

$405,000

OL Dustin Waldron

$405,000

$405,000

*Cap number includes various bonuses
**Husain Abdullah and Daniel Muir have salaries larger than their cap numbers because each is playing under a one-year veteran minimum contract.
“Dead money”In addition to their players under contract, NFL teams are obligated to count bonus money paid to players who were either released last year or had the 2013 season from their contract against the cap. The Chiefs have 17 players who received a total of $8,084,145 in so-called “dead money.”